THE men's singles final in the BSF Tennis Championships produced a hard-hitting baseline encounter between Nick Hinnighan and Jonathon Davies.

Drop shots, net volleys and lobs were few and far between, as were the mistakes in the first two sets, which were evenly contested.

In the final set, however, Hinnigan took complete command to ensure that his name was the new one on the trophy, with a 6-1 scoreline in a match that lasted over two and a half hours.

Emma Tootell was unable to reproduce the quality of the challenge that she made in last year's final against Lisa Cartwright in the ladies singles final. The heat of the afternoon came not only from the sun but also from Lisa's racket in the form of a series of blistering drives.

The 6-4, 6-2 final score recorded Lisa's 14th victory in 17 years and her ninth on the trot.

In the boy's singles, Philip Bennett and Paul Whittingham produced another three set encounter, which was always evenly balanced. The rallies were varied but rarely long and it was Philip who found that little bit of extra strength to claim the title in the final set 6-4.

The level doubles events all produced exciting matches. Martin Bromley and Phil Shacklady ran away in the early stages of the men's event as they cruised to a 3-0 lead and took the first set 6-1.

The second set was a different affair, with Nick Hinnighan and Andrew Riley finding more penetration and greater consistency. They were in the lead at all stages in the set until Bromley and Shacklady levelled at 5-5 and then 6-6.

In the ensuing tie-break the latter pair were always in front and won 7-5.

The ladies doubles was a more dogged affair with each couple finding form in different sets. Caroline Pyatt and Rebecca Dennard took full advantage of the loss of form from Diane O'Brien and Jane Kehoe in the second set, but the reigning champions came back to rediscover their first set form and take the title 6-1 in the third.

Simon Roberts and Emma Tootell have recently left the junior tennis ranks where they have both demonstrated their ability over the years. They proved their calibre in the mixed doubles final when Emma gained revenge over Lisa Cartwright in a closely contested match. Unfortunately for Jonathon Davies, partnering Lisa, it was his second finals defeat of the day.

Earlier in the day Emma had partnered Danny Gallagher in the Handicap mixed doubles. Starting off -30, against Eagley club mates, father and daughter Ian and Carol Hartopp (+O.3.), they won the first set 6-4.

They were overwhelmed by the big handicap in the second set to lose 0-6 before rallying to take the title 6-5 in the third.

The other handicap events saw close two-set matches. Richard Tetik and Dominic Roscoe from Bradshaw beat Walker's Terry Parkinson and Peter Haslam 6-4, 6-4 off the same handicap in the men's event. The ladies' doubles produced some consolation for Rebecca Dennard, partnered by Kate Nightingale (-30). The Markland Hill pair overcame a big handicap in beating Walkers' Barbara Edge and daughter, Karen Kay (set) 6-3, 6-2.

The veteran mixed doubles saw Hawkshaw's Malcolm Dow and Sylvia Cartwright regain the title they last won in 1996, with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Janet Pendlebury and Geoff Harris. Janet had consolation in the form of a three-set win in the veteran ladies doubles, when with Markland Hill partner, Norma Wood, they beat Bradshaw's Carol Mitchell and Evelyn Cooper.

The men's vets saw Tournament Referee Alan Prince and Longsight partner Bill Roscoe just scrape home against the Committee scratch pairing of Terry McEwing and Richard Latham, 6-5, 6-4.

Finally in the men's plate, Danny Gallagher claimed a second title as he won a close encounter with the man of Wimbledon experience (albeit from the umpire's chair) Paul Stalker.

The star of finals day was Hawkshaw-based Nicola Ullathorne who hit her way around the court and came away with three titles.

She demonstrated that she has the ability, attitude and the personality to be a star of the future.

She was much too strong and consistent in the Girls' Singles Final when she overcame the challenge of Ruth Bedford, who appeared to find the occasion a little overwhelming.

In the Girls' Doubles, Nicola partnered her club mate Beth Lamprey, and dropped the first set 6-1, but they recovered their form, and in two evenly contested further sets, they just had the edge to win 6-4, 7-5, against Vicky Judge and Kate Penarski.

Nicola's third title came in the Junior Mixed Doubles when, with brother Chris they beat their friends Jonathon and Beth Lamprey in two sets, 6-3, 6-4.